Operator notes

The blog for people who actually ship

Sourcing, fulfillment, and DTC ops from the team shipping for 1,000+ Shopify brands. Written by operators, for operators.

1,000+
Brands shipping
Through Peregrine, daily.
65+
Countries
Local carrier on every parcel.
6.6d
Avg delivery
Door-to-door, worldwide.
All SourcingFulfillmentDropshippingDTCCross-BorderOperationsFounder Notes
Peregrine mascot Perry running a China-based 3PL warehouse: the new standard for DTC fulfillment
Fulfillment

Why China-Based Fulfillment Quietly Won (And How To Use It Without Looking Cheap)

For a decade brands hid the China origin. Now they market it. The shift from US-warehouse 3PL to China-direct fulfillment, and how to do it without the cheap-dropship association.

Bojan Dimov Bojan Dimov May 21, 2026 11 min read
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More from the team

Perry the Peregrine Ship falcon carrying a parcel through an open gate into a European old town with a windmill and cathedral, illustrating dropshipping in Europe
Dropshipping

Dropshipping in Europe in 2026: How to Start, Where to Sell, and Why the €3 Duty Helps You

Europe is headed for a $702B ecommerce market in 2026 with 78% of internet users already buying online. The best markets to enter, the tax flow, and why the new €3 duty favors professional sellers.

Bojan Dimov Bojan Dimov Jul 21, 2026 11 min read
Perry the Peregrine Ship falcon between a crowded Yiwu market stall and a direct factory, holding a parcel and pointing to the factory, illustrating yiwu agent vs direct factory sourcing
Sourcing

Yiwu Agent vs Direct Factory Sourcing: Where the Middleman Margin Hides

A Yiwu agent buys from resellers; direct factory sourcing buys from the manufacturer. The province map of who makes what, where the middleman margin hides, and when each route is right.

Bojan Dimov Bojan Dimov Jul 21, 2026 11 min read
Perry the Peregrine Ship falcon standing between two signs, the CJ Dropshipping logo and the Peregrine Ship logo, weighing a CJ Dropshipping alternative
Dropshipping

CJ Dropshipping Alternatives in 2026: Fees, Dispatch Times, and What to Check Before You Switch

A credit-first comparison of CJ Dropshipping alternatives: published fees vs quote-on-request, dispatch SLAs, sourcing markup, and the six checks to run before you switch.

Bojan Dimov Bojan Dimov Jul 3, 2026 10 min read
Perry the falcon holding a single parcel and a coin beside a chained, padlocked stack of crates, dropshipping cash flow per order vs cash locked in inventory
Operations

The Cash-Flow Math of Dropshipping vs Holding Inventory: Real Numbers per Order

Holding inventory locks $10,000+ for months and burns 20 to 30 percent of its value a year. The per-order model funds each unit with the customer’s money. The side-by-side math, per order and per quarter.

Bojan Dimov Bojan Dimov Jul 2, 2026 10 min read
Perry the falcon showing an open crate with the product and fee visible next to a strapped-shut crate, the visible per-order fee vs hidden markup choice with a China dropshipping agent
Dropshipping

What a China Dropshipping Agent Actually Does (and What You Should Pay One)

What a dropshipping agent does per order, the three fee models, published market pricing as of July 2026, and the six checks that expose a hidden 30 to 60 percent markup.

Bojan Dimov Bojan Dimov Jul 2, 2026 9 min read
Perry the owl trimming the markup off a factory-priced parcel, the 0% markup China sourcing agent model
Sourcing

How to Find a China Sourcing Agent in 2026 (Without the 30-60% Markup)

What a China sourcing agent does, how they charge, and why a 0% markup model beats the typical 30 to 60 percent. Plus a six-point checklist to vet one.

Bojan Dimov Bojan Dimov Jun 23, 2026 9 min read
Parcel topped with customs duty coins at a European border barrier, illustrating the EU de minimis end and the new €3 per-item parcel duty in 2026
Cross-Border

EU De Minimis Ends July 1, 2026: The €3 Parcel Duty and How to Keep Shipping China-Direct to Europe

On July 1, 2026 the EU ends the €150 duty-free threshold and charges €3 per item on low-value parcels. The per-item math that decides who stays profitable, and how to keep shipping China-direct to Europe.

Bojan Dimov Bojan Dimov Jun 3, 2026 11 min read
Peregrine mascot Perry navigating Section 321 customs paperwork: the de minimis playbook for DTC brands shipping China-direct
Cross-Border

Section 321 in 2026: How DTC Brands Ship China-Direct Without Paying Duty

The de minimis exemption survived 2025 repeal attempts. Here is how to ship from China to US customers under $800 with zero duty, plus when to route around it.

Bojan Dimov Bojan Dimov May 27, 2026 9 min read
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